Greek word · G926

βαρύς

barys

weighty

Literally heavy in weight. Figuratively burdensome, oppressive or hard to bear. It can also mean weighty or important (Matthew 23:23, 'the weightier matters of the law'), or severe and fierce (Acts 20:29, 'fierce wolves').

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

βαρύς, -εῖα, ύ,

[in LXX chiefly for כָּבֵד ;]

heavy: Matthew 23:4. Metaphorical, burdensome: ἐντολή, 1 John 5:3; severe (perh. impressive): ἐπιστολή, 2 Corinthians 10:10; weighty: τὰ βαρύτερα τ. νόμου, Matthew 23:23; αἰτιώματα, Acts 25:7; violent, cruel (EV, grievous): λύκος, Acts 20:29.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 John 5:3

Range of meaning

Literally heavy in weight. Figuratively burdensome, oppressive or hard to bear. It can also mean weighty or important (Matthew 23:23, 'the weightier matters of the law'), or severe and fierce (Acts 20:29, 'fierce wolves').

Against the English

BSB, ESV, NASB, NIV, NLT and YLT say 'burdensome'. KJV and WEB say 'grievous', which in 1611 meant heavy or oppressive (from Latin gravis, 'heavy') but today suggests 'serious, terrible' or 'causing grief'.

How it drifted

English 'grievous' has narrowed toward 'very serious or severe' ('a grievous error', 'grievous harm') and toward grief. Its older sense of a heavy, oppressive load is mostly lost.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matthew 23:4: the scribes 'tie up heavy (barea) burdens… and lay them on people's shoulders.' Compare Matthew 11:30, 'my burden is light.' In Jewish discussion, commandments could be classed as 'light' or 'heavy' (Mishnah Avot 2:1: 'be as careful with a light commandment as with a weighty one'). Deuteronomy 30:11 says God's commandment is 'not too hard' for Israel (LXX ouch hyperonkos, 'not excessive').

From the study of Matthew 23:4

Range of meaning

Heavy in weight. By extension, oppressive or severe (Acts 20:29, "savage wolves"; 1 John 5:3, "his commandments are not burdensome"). Also important or weighty (Acts 25:7, "serious charges").

Against the English

"Heavy" in every major version. The wordplay across the chapter is lost in English, because 23:23 is usually translated "weightier matters."

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX uses it for heavy yokes laid on the people (1 Kings 12:4, 11, Rehoboam's "heavy yoke"), a strong scriptural precedent for leaders who make the people's load heavier. 1 John 5:3 insists God's commands are "not heavy" (ou bareiai).

From the study of 2 Corinthians 10:10

Range of meaning

Literally 'heavy.' Figuratively it means (1) weighty, important or serious, (2) burdensome or oppressive, and (3) severe, harsh or fierce. Used of people and speech, it can mean 'grave, impressive, authoritative,' close to the Latin gravitas.

Against the English

'Weighty' (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT, ESV, NIV) keeps the 'impressive' sense well. NLT's 'demanding' brings out the 'heavy-handed' sense. No single English word holds both.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matthew 23:23 calls justice, mercy and faithfulness 'the weightier (barytera) matters of the law', meaning the more important ones. 1 John 5:3 says God's commands are 'not burdensome' (ou bareiai). Acts 20:29 speaks of 'savage (bareis) wolves.' Paul uses the related noun in 1 Thessalonians 2:7: as apostles 'we could have been a weight' (en barei), meaning they could have insisted on their status or been a burden.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 23:4 βαρέα heavy

    They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

    Here: Heavy loads. The word comes back with irony in 23:23, where these same teachers neglect "the weightier [barytera] matters of the law": justice, mercy and faithfulness.

  2. Matthew 23:23 βαρύτερα weightier [matters]

    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

    Here: Comparative: the commandments that weigh more, meaning they matter more. It echoes the Jewish teachers' distinction between 'light' and 'heavy' commandments.

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 20:29 βαρεῖς grievous

    I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

    Here: Literally 'heavy'. Of wild animals it means formidable, savage, dangerous. These are not stray pests but wolves able to do serious damage.

  2. Acts 25:7 βαρέα weighty

    When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

    Here: Literally 'heavy' charges: serious accusations that could carry severe consequences. The physical image of weight is still audible.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:10 βαρεῖαι [are] weighty

    For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”

    Here: 'Weighty': serious and imposing. In context it also hints at 'heavy-handed' or 'harsh', the letters that seemed meant to frighten (v. 9).

1 John · 1

  1. 1 John 5:3 βαρεῖαι burdensome

    For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,

    Here: A picture of physical weight: a load that crushes the person carrying it. Coming before the verb, it gets the stress: 'heavy, they are not.'

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.